And who knows? Hannah prayed that if God would give her a child, she would give that child back to Him. Praise Is Powerful - Keep Praising God. God showed his faithfulness with Zechariah and Elizabeth by working to bless their lives even after they waited a long time. Finding out she was pregnant with the Savior of the world wasnt the easiest news to swallow and the aftermath took some faith. But Thanksgiving is more than a day or a month. Heres another Bible character who God journeyed with through tough times. While queen Esther was Jewish, she had been hiding her identity. Intercede for me. She stepped out of the shadows, made her way through the crowd and told the whole truth so she could get closer to Jesus. Instead, it redirects our focus on who God is. My flesh finds relief in making a plan or figuring out a solution, but something I learned about going through difficulty is that its an opportunity to transform my prayer life. And along with that, she courageously led her people into battle. He thenaccepted that trusting God through it all was enough. If you keep reading his story, Jacob ends up reconciling with his brother after wrestling with God. Praise should fill our hearts every day, no matter our circumstances - especially when we are walking through seasons of great trials. Many years after being anointed, and after the death of King Saul in battle, David ascends to the throne, and there it becomes evident in the scriptures the disorders of Davids life and how he coldly orders Bathshebas husband to be killed. Our loved ones may try to lighten our load or lift our spirits, but unfortunately, their efforts can fall short. Our relationships can completely change for the better when we are willing to trust God with our mistakes and sins. Now this doesnt mean that those problems will suddenly disappear or that it will be smooth sailing from here on out, but it does mean that my face will brighten again and the weight of the burden will lessen. Even though Naomi tried to push both her daughters-in-law away, Ruth refused to be shut out. The cool thing is, Ruth and Naomis relationship was not one-sided. (4) We can be thankful in difficult times . Even when our run has slowed to a crawl and our shout has died down to a whimper we can wait on our good Father with fierce expectation. Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed;save me and I will be saved,for you are the one I praise. How do you handle adversity? When David returned to bless her family, Michal, the daughter of Saul, came, How distinguished the king of Israel has been seen today, undressing like a. But now he had a choice to make. I cry to you, O Lord; I say, "you are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.". Gods love is a lot like the love of a spouse all-encompassing. However, Davids success and popularity caused King Saul to become jealous, and he eventually tried to kill David. Praising God facilitates the necessary help to conquer and be triumphant over difficult times and moments. He was the hero who defeated Goliath, successful in war and had the love of the people. Lift these difficulties up to God in prayer. For me, bad news is usually followed by worst-case scenario thinking and suddenly being overtaken by torrents of anxiety and feelings of helplessness. So King Saul took on the task of making Davids life impossible, persecuting him and trying to kill him, and although David had multiple opportunities to put an end to all that, he steadfastly refused to lay a finger on the king, firmly believing that the God who had anointed him would find a way to put him on the throne. I think the enemy knows that as long as we wait for everything to line up before we praise the Lord, well stay stuck a lot longer than we need to. When perhaps your sacrifice was difficult. Sometimes difficulty isnt a drastic tragedy, but the busy chaos of managing life. David replied: I did it in the presence of the LORD, who instead of choosing your father or Whenever I know my pastors are going through difficult times, seeing them continue to preach Gods word boldly encourages me that God can give us grace to go on. To see difficulty the way God does, we need Bible verses for hard times that we can hold on to. Solomon requested an understanding mind to enable him to govern the people fairly and to judge the kingdom righteously, with discernment between good and evil. From Moses, we learn something simple yet often overlooked: we should remember to turn to God for help. So the two women went on until they came to Bethlehem. Difficult times can lead us to a point where we feel like our backs are against the wall and there are very little options before us to find a way out or a solution to overcome. This mercy is anchored in past events. If we cant praise him for our circumstances, we can praise him in spite of them. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. There is no greater joy than seeing Gods destiny rise above our circumstances. Have you been denied something youve longed for a long time? The main message from all of the lessons taught by these Bible figures is that everything is possible with God (Matthew 15:26). However, in the book of Samuel, we find a passage, where it is evident that Davids state of gratitude went beyond what his words expressed, and far above his wifes contempt, he would always praise God. They were not motivated by their own success or glory when they refused to bow down, but rather by the fact that God would be glorified through the result of either their sacrifice or their triumph. With the water at their backs, and Pharaoh and the Egyptians bearing down on them, it was only God who could provide a way it. She was just a young girl who was trying to survive. When they arrived in Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them, and the women exclaimed, Can this be Naomi? [20] Dont call me Naomi, she told them. Deborah believed and trusted God in a way that can be hard for us to do. Living through a stormy season? Our vulnerable prayers unlock a deeper level of intimacy with God. Believing that God chose me to help others know Him both challenges and inspires me. Some may be struggling with an exam season, others may be going through a painful breakup. I pray youll be encouraged and take hope in Gods power, even as the battles seem to close in around you. All rights reserved. Sometimes during difficult times we simply need to remember God. [26] Then the man said, Let me go, for the dawn is breaking! But Jacob said, I will not let you go unless you bless me. [27] What is your name? the man asked. His road was not always smooth. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.And he who was seated on the throne said, Behold, I am making all things new.. God moved through their loyal friendship to help them find healing, hope, and an incredible future. May God be blessed, he says, because of his mercy. I shut down my emotions so I dont have to feel or rely on anyone. Sign up below for your FREE Printable Prayer Cards: Hi, I'm Kathryn! which is the people of the LORD. Every day we work demanding jobs and do what we can to help care for our families. They are an example of people who understood longing unfulfilled the heartache of being denied something you long for and not knowing why. Not about the title, or accomplishments, but about caring for others. None of us are exempt from facing difficulties in life. Through Song. for I will yet praise him, In preparation for my audience with the king, do this: gather together all the Jews in Susa, and fast and pray for me. Do you know where to direct your praise today? Some people suffer for what they have done; others suffer because of what people have done to them. How did I get myself here?. But, if we review Davids story in the Bible, we realize that becoming king for him was a difficult path to travel and that, however, God was with him in every part of his life. Hes willing to help us work through our pain and defenses to transform us into someone new. My maids and I will join you in this time. As a new young queen, Im sure Esther felt a little out of her element. Oftentimes I harden to my pain by minimizing and hiding it. In 1 Corinthians 14:1-26, Paul explains universal principles about prophecy. Esthers cousin and adopted father, Mordecai, asked her to stand up for her people. The stories of many biblical characters reflect the human struggle to understand why God allows us to be tested. Once when Saul slept in a cave where David was hiding, and another time when David snuck into Sauls army camp at night. Regardless, I pushed through the fear and apologised. When Jesus entered a village (Luke 17) there were ten lepers that called out to him for healing. So I will continue dancing in the presence of the We asked a few members of our staff at Deep Spirituality for their favorite biblical characters who trusted God in the midst of difficulty and came up with 10 examples in the Bible of trusting God in difficult times to inspire you. I cant move, I am in pain constantly. Since God knows and is working everything out according to His plan and purpose, we can praise and thank God even in difficult times. My friend was angry, but we were able to make amends. Then Deborah said to Barak, Go! How has your faith been affected by a long-standing difficult situation? No matter how many tactics Naomi used to keep her at a distance, Ruth stood her ground. In the good and the bad, in the ups and downs, our natural response must be gratitude. But with the encouragement of friends and prayer we had to decide whether our faith was going to be in our circumstances or in God. How can you turn your eyes to God and sing his praises when life is hard? But then she was faced with a dilemma. What I find interesting is that all three of these instances were instances we might find tense. any other of his family, chose me and made me ruler of Israel, And if I die, then I die!. Her websitebrittanyrust.comaims to supply encouraging resources for the world-wearied believer. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. And you can find strength, comfort and guidance in the Lord during these challenging times. I will also praise you with the harpfor your faithfulness, O my God;I will sing praises to you with the lyre,O Holy One of Israel.My lips will shout for joy,when I sing praises to you;my soul also, which you have redeemed.And my tongue will talk of your righteous help all the day long,for they have been put to shame and disappointedwho sought to do me hurt. The Psalmist is full of longing to be in God's House. There is no greater joy than seeing Gods destiny rise above our circumstances. Stop and give incredible thanks for all God has and is doing in your life! On the contrary, we should continue to praise Him. During these times, prayer can be especially difficult. The excuse Esther gave was valid she could die! This was her response: How am I supposed to see the king? Hannah is one of my favorite people in the Bible and someone Ive learned a lot from. Though our circumstances change our destiny does not (Ephesians 1:11). vv. Jumping and dancing before the LORD, she felt for him a deep contempt. . Its good to know that our Father invites us to confide in him, to share our feelings honestly in prayer. God guided the Israelites to the exact place he wanted them to be, right on the edge of the Red Sea. It helps to remember an important quality of Jesus that he is always with us. & Privacy Policy. We can learn from this: Deborah cared about the people she led like a mother cares for her children. That man threw himself at the feet of Jesus and gave immense thanks. [30] Jacob named the place Peniel (which means face of God), for he said, I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been spared.. Good thing we have some great examples in the Bible! Praising God in the hard times doesn't minimize or deny heaviness of heart. It would be safe to say this is not how David pictured his journey toward becoming the king of Israel. David was the last of his brothers, in a large family where all were strong and courageous men of war, except him, who was a shepherd boy. Praising God in hard times requires faith. As the story of David and our experience with our oldest illustrate, Gods destiny for our lives does not change because of our circumstances. my Savior and my God. Want to explore further how God is by your side through it all? 16 Bible Verses about Praise, Examples Of. Mordecai, Esthers cousin, pleaded for her to talk to the King. Now my household fills two large camps! In his darkest moments, David was still worshipping God. Job had lost his children, his land, and most of his possessions yet he worshipped God. Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!For the Lord is a great God,and a great King above all gods. The other wife, Peninnah, would taunt her regularly and Hannahs misery was indeed immense. Praising God in the hard times doesnt minimize or deny heaviness of heart. We can look to her as an example for how to handle the chaos of our daily lives. His connection to God deepens during difficulties. Esther: Trusting God to act even when youre afraid, more to explore in my relationship with God, The Red Sea Rules: The Same God Who Led You In Will Lead You Out. Secondly, Zechariah and Elizabeth lived by faith with the conviction that God loved them and wanted to bless them. Their faith allowed for contentment with whatever the outcome. He worshiped after the death of his son. David was anointed King of Israel, was hailed a hero for conquering Goliath, led numerous successful military campaigns, became head of military operations for Israel, married the kings daughter he had it all going for him. Is your faith based on the outcome of your difficult situation? Everyone felt backed up against a wall with no way out, but thats because no one would have predicted that He would part the Red Sea for the Israelites to walk through on solid ground. Use these timeless Bible verses about praising God in your prayers until your heart can find its own words. These Bible stories about trusting God will inspire you to overcome circumstances and inspire your faith to believe. Anyone in the presence of the slaves of his officials! The Holy Spirit causes our hearts to overflow with hope. Even when Naomi was bitter and mean, Ruth stuck by her side. Do you cry out more or avoid Him? We wont spam you. We can enjoy Davids grateful heart in the book of psalms, where this man inspired by God knew how to pour out his heart before the omnipotent God through the most beautiful words and poems. Terms of Service And after the three days, I will go in to the king and plead my peoples case, even though it means breaking the law. This experience can occur in our lives from time to time. Everyone experiences periods in life that look nothing like they had imagined. This motivated her to take action. Job protested his innocence to his friends, and eventually asked God to explain Himself. How can you trust that, whatever happens, it is God who still loves and guides you? You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. The horse and its rider He has hurled into the sea. They sang and praised God, and the Lord did their battling for them. David is a man known for praise. After being away from home for years, Jacob finally headed back in Genesis 32. He could have given up on God altogether, but decided to keep serving God despite his unfulfilled longing. Hearing this, I realised that even though we may never understand why bad things happen, trusting in God helps us to move forward in the best way possible. Later, in the midst of Jobs suffering, his friends got into a debate with him. When he was young, Jacob had a relationship with his brother Esau that was complicated at best. Hope is what keeps us going when our desires seem to go unfulfilled and hard times come our way. When we think of praise, it may help to note that this includes thanksgiving, speaking well of God, confessing faith, and a vast array of adoring expressions. But the basis of our faith for this praise is Romans 8:28: "All things work together for good to them that love God.". Hers was just bigger. What is your motive in wanting your desired outcome? Maybe you come up with a lot of reasons or excuses for why you shouldnt be the one to act. Even in the darkest seasons of his life--as we see in the psalms--he pointed back to the goodness of God. There were many moments in Davids life that were not how he would have pictured it. He cares for us and understands our needs and weaknesses. So what did Moses do? There, Paul sang to God in worship, until a violent earthquake occurred. But we can take comfort from the stories of these five Bible characters: with God, nothing is impossible to overcome. I am afraid that he is coming to attack me, along with my wives and children. No matter what season David found himself in, he always had the perspective of praise. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. But despite his many flaws, God still chose him for something special. Psalm 51: The Prayer of a Repentant Sinner bible study, The bearers of the Ark had scarcely advanced six steps, when David sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf. So amid cheers and to the sound of rams horns, David and all the people So I will continue dancing in the presence of the. by Admin Team. After losing both her husband and her sons, she felt completely empty and utterly alone. On the contrary, we should continue to praise Him. Where No One Stands Alone Lisa Marie Presley Duet with Elvis, Bills QB Josh Allen Describes 'Spiritual Awakening' after Hamlin Collapse: 'I Couldn't Deny' It. [24] This left Jacob all alone in the camp, and a man came and wrestled with him until the dawn began to break. When talking about Bible characters who suffered, Job would be one of the first few people Christians think of and rightly so. Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. It will not change with time, place, or circumstances. Im sure it wasnt always easy but he knew thanksgiving was always necessary. And the Lord showed him a piece of wood, He threw it in the water, and the water became fit to drink (Exodus 15:25). Our destiny is determined by God. He turns the light on where once there was only darkness. Jacob: Trusting God when youve messed up, 10. The jailer was about to take his own life, believing the prisoners had escaped, but Paul managed to stop him, assuring him that all the prisoners were present and accounted for. I myself know the consequences of compromising. Whats beautiful about this story is that she did indeed give her son back to the Lord--she gave Samuel to Eli. In one sense, its a choice, not a feeling. Praying God's Promises: The Why and How Behind the Practice. They won the battle without a sword even being drawn. Moses is another Bible character who suffered several instances of hard times. Are you honest with yourself, others, and God about your longings? Though Jacob had grown and matured in a lot of ways over the years, he was now forced to face the consequences of his sins. When God reveals who he is to Moses in Exodus 34:6-7, this is how he describes himself: "Yahweh, Yahweh, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, overflowing with loyal love and faithfulness .". Rather than let God and people give me the comfort and reassurance I need, I push them away by refusing to be honest, hardening my heart and acting cold in relationships. Lately Ive been seeing God create opportunities to build closeness in my marriage, make new friends and to comfort those around me. Who among these Bible characters is your favourite and why? How do you respond when given the chance to step up? Deepen and inspire your prayers with 16 ways to pray! If you are like me, and you endure adversity for any length of time, it can be easy to lose faith and quickly turn to self-pity and unbelief. Begin with a Bible verse of praise, a pre-written prayer, or even a worship song. Its both amazing to think and sad that only one man returned to give thanks for healing from a debilitating disease. Dont be like one of the nine that was blessed and moved on. Our mentors are not counsellors. Example for how to handle the chaos of managing life had been hiding her identity up for! 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